TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunication)

Our Telecommunications practice group provides representation in novel industry business transactions, regulatory compliance, licensing and proceedings, and litigation affecting the technology, media and telecommunications industries. Our lawyers offer a level and range of experience and knowledge that is unmatched in the country. In an industry where change and upheaval have long been the order of the day, our lawyers have consistently rendered excellent legal support to various industry players in a manner that has helped our clients to constructively navigate the nascent regulatory and legal issues that affect players within the TMT industry.

Kampala Associated Advocates is privileged to have a team of top lawyers with proven expertise and knowledge of the Ugandan legal and regulatory spectrum. The team’s rich and varied experience and background within the TMT sector enables them to offer relevant and incisive legal and business advice tailor made to suit the unique circumstances of each client operating within a complex and technical field. The team is experienced in representing providers, clients and regulators of communications services, IT services and infrastructure, on a local level. From Commercial/ Transactional Advisory, Regulatory Compliance, Intellectual Property, Telecommunications, Licensing within the sector, Data Protection and Privacy, FinTech, E-Payments, Electronic Commerce, Software Licensing, Domain Name registrations and Disputes, Dispute Resolution to other related fields, our team is best placed to render the most relevant, informed and practical advice to help you navigate the high stakes environment.

With a proven and unrivalled track record in representing clients across all three sub-sectors of TMT; individual innovators, start-up companies, global corporations, public institutions, regulators, telecommunications companies - our experienced team of lawyers have been involved in most of the industry's landmark cases and deals and continue to advise regularly on sector defining projects. To all these representations our team brings not only experience in the legal issues, but a practical understanding of technology and telecommunications businesses borne of years of experience.

Milestones

•Collaborated with the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO) in a consultancy commissioned by the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) to conduct a Gap Analysis of the Policy, Legal and Regulatory Framework for Uganda’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The Consultancy was carried out as part of the Regional Communication Infrastructure Program (RCIP) under the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and National Guidance (MoICT&NG).
• Consulted on the review and harmonisation of the Telecommunications Licensing framework with the Broadband Policy of Uganda.
• Represented MTN Uganda Limited in the negotiations, public hearings and drafting and review of documentation for the renewal of its SNO license.
• Successfully represented MTN Uganda Limited in a telecommunications case that sought to challenge the provision of mobile money by players in the telecommunications sector.
• Represented a telecommunications client in the negotiation of the asset purchase regarding a telecommunications company inclusive of its radio spectrum allocation. It also reviewed and drafted the relevant documentation. This transaction was worth over USD.15 million dollars.
• Represented MTN Uganda Limited in an extraterritorial interconnection dispute against Uganda Telecom Limited worth USD.4 million dollars.
• Liaised with the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions on behalf of MTN Uganda Limited in the investigation and prosecution proceedings of former MTN Uganda Limited employees in relation to various incidents of mobile money fraud that resulted in successful convictions.
• Successfully represented the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in a law suit challenging the Digital Migration exercise undertaken under the Digital Migration Policy of 2011.
• Successfully represented the UCC in a law suit emanating from the termination of a contract for the collection of Television Licence Fees by the Government of Uganda. The value of the claim was USD $ 513,295,409.54

• Advised a financial company on Software Licensing Agreement, leading the inter-party contractual negotiations in relation to the software licensing agreement and the Service Level Agreement terms. Drafted the agreement for the supply, installation and maintenance of the core banking software called
Orbit-R.
• Successfully defended the UCC together with a local telecommunication company, in a landmark litigation matter instituted against the two parties in relation to the provision of mobile money services, as a value added service.
• Successfully represented a local telecommunications company in the investigation and prosecution of former employees in the incidents of mobile money fraud.
• Successfully represented the UCC in the first of its kind law suit instituted in Uganda regarding the temporary suspension of some over the top service platforms and other social media websites.
• Successfully represented the UCC in a law suit lodged by a licensee challenging the levying of license fees in respect of short codes issued under the Uganda National Numbering Plan Guidelines by the UCC.
• Advised a satellite company, on the Ugandan laws and regulations which will impact the deployment of a constellation of Low Earth-Orbiting (“LEO”) satellites which are designed to operate in the Ku-Band and Ka-Band frequencies in Uganda.
• Successfully represented one of the largest money transfer remittance companies in East Africa in an alleged money laundering scheme worth over USD 14 million dollars.
• Advised an international conglomerate on data protection and data transfer laws in Uganda.
• Advised a money lending company on the Ugandan law governing provision of mobile loans using the mobile money platform.
• Advised several entities in the field of block chain/ crypto currency on regulatory compliance regarding their products and services.
• Advised international oil companies on the legal risks associated with moving the existing workplace environment into Microsoft Office 365 public cloud environment in Uganda.

Articles on TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunication)

Registration compliance under the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019.

Tue Aug 9, 2022

TMT Knowledge Data protection and the Blockchain technology: Is a centralised legal framework adequate for a decentralised Technology?

Tue Mar 29, 2022

Celtel Uganda Limited vs Karungi Susan. Court of Appeal Civil Appeal No. 73 of 2013.

Tue Sep 28, 2021